Adjustable work support usable with die cutting press



April 11, 1961 E. G. ovERLY 2,978,944

ADJUSTABLE NNNNNN OR April 1l, 1961 E. G. ovERLY 2,978,944

ADJUSTABLE WORK SUPPORT USABLE WITH DIE CUTTING PRESS Filed April ll, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Mlm www"

INVENTOR 2 MER G. OVE/:JL Y

ATTORNEYS p nal. Further, since, the initial.` costs, of the `l boards as well as the ,res'rfaci` i 5 ai'efexpensive, fit', is desirablegto keep this f United States Patent ADJUSTABLE WORK SUPPORT USABLE WITH DIE CUTTlNG PRESS Elmer G. Overly, 7301 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh 8, Pa. Filed Apr. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 727,891 7 Claims. (Cl. 83539) This invention relates to paper processing machinery and more particularly to a new and useful die press cutting board or table `for supporting a ream of paper, or similar sheet material, such as may be used in the manufacture of paper envelopes and the like.

The die cutting presses, of the kind to which the present invention pertains, include a movable cutting board table for supporting a ream of paper to be cut by a reciprocating head or hydraulic ram. The cutting board is provided with a portion made of hardwood blocks to permit a cutting die which is forced through the ream to completely penetrate the ream and partially enter into the hard wood cutting board, to assure cornplete cutting of all of the paper.

In such die presses, the cutting board is usually a composite block made of a multiplicity of hard wood sections. This cutting board is movable into operating position, under the ram of the press, or `outwardly from under the ram to an inoperative position; in which latter position, the paper, or other material to be cut,\may be placed on the board. 1

Ordinarily, materials to be cut are originally in large sheets. These large sheets require a suitable working table top having a `relatively large area to support them. However, it is possible to do most of the actual cutting on one portion of `the cutting board. Usually the work pieces to be cut are quite Vsmall in relation to the area of the material from which they are cut. In conventional operation, most of the cutting is done at one end of the table. Consequently, one end of the cutting board, after repeated use, `will `be `badly! mutilated .and become unusable, due to the action of the die cutter. When `this undesirable condition exists, the press operator frequently will rotate the cutting board end-for-end in the same plane, so that Vthe end having the mutilated surface now will be used merely asa-support` for the team of paper, while the end of the cutting board with the new cutting surface willbe moved unclerthe` ram' for the actual die cutting operation.` `After. the cutting surface of both ends of the cutting board have become unusable, the cutting board must" be replaced with a dierent boardwhile the hoard with the unusable cutting surfaceundergoes `a resurfacing `operation to reduce sutciently themutilated surface until the cuttingboard ,againhas a surface suitable for die cutting purposes.

`Changingv the v,conventional size cutting board is -a task `notrelished bythe die` press operatorsince thecutting a minimum. In accordance with this invention the size of the cutting board is reduced, yet a positionable work supporting surface having the eiciency of a larger cutting board is provided. t

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel working surface or work tabletop arrangement usable in a die cutting press.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel table arrangement having a iixed height portion and an adjustable height portion.

A further object is to provide a novel table top Workelevating means for a table top portion wherein an endso that said portion maybe lowered to accommodate the Aremaining portion of the table as it is cut down by resurfacing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a die cutting press having a positionable table and adjustment 'means for adjusting the height of one portion of the table by novel elevating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel elevating means for a table top portion wherein an endless link chain is employed for operating a multiplicity of sprockets which raise and lower the table.

Other objects may become apparent from a perusal of the specication and drawings herein. It is to be understood that the present drawings are by way of illus trationand that changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the sub-joined claims.

inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the positionabletable having the cutting board portion disposed relative to the base and ram of a hydraulic die-cutting press;

Fig. 2 is` a plan view'of a portion of` the table with Y the adjustable top of the table removed tor expose the elevating mechanism for the adjustable table top;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing a sprocket movably mounted on the table base plate and having a` stud engageable therewith for elevating the table adjustable top;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. `2 showing a socket wrench arrangement for revolving the table top elevating sprocket; and

Fig.` 5 is a sectional'viewf of a take-up assembly taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2. f

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, there is' shown a novel table 20 slidableon table topsupporting brackets 21 by a carriage mechanism generally designated 22. The

- an operating .position onto a base V23 below `a recproboard is cumbersome to handle `andquite heavy. Con'l` sequently, the cutting board frequently is permitted to remain on the `die press in service appreciably'past the time for efficient and economical `cutting operations. i 1231.3employing` a"smallercuttingboard;-the'diel cutting press operator will bemore inclined to` changethecut- Q `ting, board when necessary, -`thereby increasinglfthe ein?" ciency lof; operation and reducingthe spoilage ofnrat'earsetcutt tieni vbase plate 39.

eating ramZS'bythe carriage mechanism 22. The ram 25 ismounted forvertical reciprocation on guide rods 27 which `entend into associated bosses 29 secured tothe base 23. The table 20 has a cutting board portion generally designated 30, formed by a multiplicity of hardwood Yblocks 31.5 A 'metallicband or woodstrip, 32 is'larranged along each of the sides of the cutting boardportion:4 A

Atable adjustable portion generally designated 33 is movably held adjacent the cuttingboard portionr30 by straps 35 on eithersidethereof. The straps 35are secured by bolts threaded respectively, into the cutting board portion 30, and intorespectiveangle bars37, 4securedto a table With Athis arrangement, thecutting board 1. portion 30 and the table adjustableportion arefc'ombined to 'move asa unitinto andoutbf'an operative posi# t ion -thebase `23, beneath; theram 2S, `under `theim flume-ofthe sa las? .als,Chansmi2L?1` 1 ...ellearriasefmeshanismi?? hasjpusherbrlste s f i. curedto, ashaftgfizor engaging fthetable 4.bas V fplate 39, A

`table 20 is movable into,

42,. and the entire carriage. mechanism assembly, inwardly, so that the table adjustable portion 33 may be moved into operative position in a conventional manner. Means connecting'the table 33 `with the actuating arm Yare notY shown herein, but are associated with the conventional carriage mechanism Y and associated die press equipment for proper positionable movement ofthe table.

A'liexible closure 50 of a material such as rubber, canvas, or the like, is disposed about the complete elevating mechanism carried between an adjustable table top 51 and the'table base plate 39. AV multiplicity of closuresecuring strips 53 are used to grip the free edge of the flexible closure on the four sides thereof and secure same to the table 'baseplate Equivalent closure-.securing strips vare'used for securing the llexible closure material'to the underneath surfaceof the adjustable table top. The flex- Aibleclosure prevents dust and foreign material from getting into the operating mechanism of the 'elevating mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, there are details of the adjustable table top elevating structure wherein elevating sprocket assemblies such as 60 are secured adjacent the 'four different corners of the table base plate 39.

A control sprocket assembly 62 for operating the link chain is disposed between two elevating sprocket assemblies 60 and take-up sprocket assemblies 64 and 66 are disposed on either side'of the control sprocket assembly. A continuous link chain 67 goes completely around the four elevating sprockets in the overall elevating sprocket assembly; The take-up sprocket assemblies 64 and..66

are slidablyadjustable so that they engage and may'con'- trol the tension on the endless link chain 67.

gaseosa' sprocket wheel 75is. square in cross-sectional shape to ReferringY to Fig. 3, there is shown .a cr'oss section of one elevating sprocket assembly such as 60. .'Each sprocket assembly has a lower plate 70,` an upper plate 71 and spacersY 72, between said plates at the corners thereof, for spacing and securing the upper Vand lower plates with the spacers tothe table base plate 39 by means of screws such as 73. Y

A sprocketwheel, lgenerally designated 75, has spaced sprocket teeth 76 distributed in a conventional manner for engaging the. endless link chain 67, and has a lower hub '78 which engages abearing opening'79 formed inthe lower' plate 70. A lower shoulder 80'of the sprocket wheel 75 rides'a'gainst the inner surface of the llower plate 70. Thebearing .hub 81 on the opposite end ofthe sprocketrides in a bearingopening 82 formed in the upper plate 71.` A hub shoulder V83 adjacent the hub 81 rides on the inner surface of the upper plate 71. A ,sprocket thread 85-is formed internally of the sprocket 75 'to accommodate athreadedI stud 86which`has a stud head 87 on one end thereof,.secured to the adjustable table top 51 by'means of screws 90. It' will be seen that by rotating'fthe sprocket 75, the

`,threaded stud`86fwill beV moved/axially according to 'the directional of rotation of thesprocket 75. The four threaded studs 8,6, in'thir respective-elevating sprocket assemblies, .are so positioned in relation to the adjustable tion, lwill cause vtheadjustable tabletop' 51 to have the -fourco'rnerslthereo'f elevated simultaneously.' j .t The-threaded studs 86 are initially Vpositioned so Athat -theupper and lower'plates'of the table adjustable portion are `'p arallerto,each; other. The 'adjustable table top 51 Imay-betraised or lowered to bringsitginto alignment with theupperjsnrfaee` ofthe cutting board portion 30 The"con'trol "sprocket assembly 62 by turnf receive the sprocket wrench.

Fig. 5 shows details of one of the take-up sprocket assemblies such as 64. A lower plate 98 has an elongated slot 99 therein for receiving headed fastening screws 100 for adjustably fasteningpthe lower plate of the take-up sprocket assemblies to the base plate 39 of the table adjustable portion 33.

AThe lower platel98 has secured thereto, such as by a weld itil., an lupper plate 102 which is L-shaped. The

upper plate 102 and the lower plate 98 have bearing openings such as 103 and 104 respectively, for'receiving shafts 105 and 106 having hubbed portions 107 and 108, respectively, of the take-up sprocketV 14, the sprocket 14 is otherwise similar in contour to, but somewhat smaller than the sprockets 75 of the elevating sprocket assemblies.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that by rotating the sprocket wrench ineither one direction or the other, the

adjustable table top 51 may be lowered to the dotted portion position shown in Fig. 3 or elevated to the solid line position shown in Fig. 3, and the flexible closure 50 will be yieldable in accordance with the movement ofthe table top in relation to the base plate 45.

In lFig. 2 it will be seen that the liexible closure 50 has closure securing strips 53 on the four sides of the table base plate so that the mechanism for elevating the adjustable table top is completely enclosed by the resilient or llexible closure 50.

v Also, it will be seen that the table adjustable portion 33 has an adjustable table top which maybe lowered after the cutting board portion has been resurfaced or cut down, in order to keep the entire surface at an even level. .The apparatus permits repeated resurfacing of the cutting board portion after mutilation by a cutting die 1.08 such as is shown on top of a ream of the paper '109, or other material to be cut by the die.

While a specic embodiment -of the invention has been shown and described in detailtoV illnstratethe application of the invention principles, itrwillube understood that -the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.' f i What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentof the UnitedStates is: g Y

Y l'. A die press for cutting sheetmaterial comprising a Vvertically reciprocable ram member, a base member lof work thereon by said diel press, and means Yto reciprocate said work Vsupporting surface portion to kaffect realignment thereof with -said wooden block cutting surface portion after the latter is planed.

Y 2.*.In combination with adie press according toY claim l,.wherein Vsaid meansrto reciprocate saidl work supporting surface portion includes an internally Vthreaded.sprocket member rotatably mounted on said cutting board supporting base and a` threaded stud in engagement` with the vinternal threads of said sprocket member and con'- nected to said reciprocatable work supporting surface portion, said threaded stud .being reciprocated' upwardly and downwardly upon Vrotation of said sprocket member.

"3. Incombifna'tion with-aV die press according to claim l2,

' including a sprocket member adjacent eachV of the cor-l ners of saidreciprocatblework supporting snrfacelpor-V tig'n, said 'sprocket member. having an internally thread-'- Led-centralportion,a threadedstud Ynlernbe'r in engage-Y ``'irren' with the threaded'porticri of CO t S W sprocket members whereby to evenly raise and lower said work supporting surface portion.

4. ln combination with a die press according to claim 3, wherein said means for simultaneously rotating each of said sprocket members includes a sprocket chain extending around each of said sprocket members, and a crank sprocket member in engagement with said chain, said crank sprocket member including means for connecting a crank thereto for rotating said member.

5. In combination with a die press according to claim 4, wherein said work supporting table includes an opening therein in alignment with the portion of said crank sprocket member for connection to a crank member, whereby a crank member may be positioned in said opening to change the elevation of said Work supporting surface portion.

6. A die press for cutting sheet material comprising a base member, a vertically reciprocable ram member arranged above said base, and table means movable bev tween said base and said ram, said table means com- 20 prising a supporting base, and a cutting board portion and a work supportingvertically adjustable portion supported on said base, said cutting board portion being capable of being planed evenly after wear such as would occur when said die press cuts a suicient number of work pieces thereon, and means to reciprocate said work supporting surface portion to alect realignment thereof with said cutting board portion after the latter is planed.

7. A die press according to claim 6, wherein said means to reciprocate said work supporting surface is located between said supporting base and said work supporting surface, and including a llexible covering extending between said base and said work supporting surface adjacent the exposed sides thereof to cover said reciproeating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,050 Stewart et a1. June 6, 1893 1,082,669 Winkley Dec. 30, 1913 1,106,363 Casgrain Aug. 11, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS 196,960 Switzerland Apr. 15, 1938 

